Seeking Texas’s Sartorial Soul in Forth Worth, an Apex of Cowboy Culture and Craft

Where to eat and drink

The 1947 classic Cattlemen’s Steak House, which was given a new life—along with a members-only club in its basement—by mega-producer Taylor Sheridan, features modern steakhouse go-tos. Order ranch water and a steak salad at the bar, and enjoy the world-class people-watching.

No trip to Fort Worth is complete without a visit to bustling family-owned Tex-Mex institution Joe T. Garcia’s and its sprawling patio. Join the always festive crowd for strong, salty margaritas and classics like enchiladas and chiles rellenos, and mariachi on Friday and Saturday nights and all day Sunday.

A piled-high plate of ribs and brisket and an ice-cold beer is a Texas standard, and no one in Fort Worth does it better than Railhead Smokehouse BBQ, a 40-year-old barbecue joint owned by state representative Charlie Geren.

Where to find westernwear

Realtor Rodger Chieffalo inherited a short-brimmed beaver felt hat beloved by legendary local businessman Amon G. Carter, then began sourcing and refurbishing similar hats to give as gifts to clients. The passion became Chieffalo Americana which now includes upscale American-made and reworked Western vintage wear.

Owned and operated by the Franklin family for three generations, M.L. Leddy’s sells its own line of custom boots and hats—and anything else a well-heeled Texan might want. The store’s rich, wood-trimmed interior smells like saddle leather and oil money.

Packed to the rafters with fashionable Western clothing and accessories, Maverick Fine Western Wear is a must-stop shop in the heart of the Stockyards. Owner Gayle Hill hosts several designer trunk shows a year for her loyal customers, who rely on the Maverick buyer’s eye for heirloom-quality pieces.

Dallas-born designer Lela Rose has elevated and adapted cowgirl chic to appeal to the Net-a-Porter crowd. Her shop inside Bowie House sells clothing, home accessories, and boots from her Lucchese collaboration.

At Crissy Jean Faulconer’s appointment-only Proper Supply Co. in Weatherford (a ranch community near Fort Worth), Faulconer sells jeans stitched from rare Texas denim and custom sterling silver belt buckles made using vintage molds from Bohlin Company, a favorite of Western stars like Roy Rogers. Diplo is a customer.

Where to peruse jewelry

The fine jeweler Jo Latham sources unique pieces for discerning shoppers who appreciate craftsmanship with a wink—like horseshoe pendants from French Lebanese designer Selim Mouzannar or a diamond-encrusted pistol charm.

“Chief” Garren Still, who is half Cherokee, crafts and sells a curated selection of sterling and American-mined turquoise jewelry, like ornate cuffs and statement necklaces at Weatherford establishment Chief’s Trading Post.

Where to try on hats

The marquee in front of the Best Hat Store reads “Positive Times,” and the optimistic “+ x” symbol is embroidered onto the store’s signature hat patches. Inside, rows of in-house brand American Hat Company (manufactured in Bowie) line the walls, and customers queue up for sessions with its team of experienced shapers.

The Mule Alley Flea Style, the most successful of the 10 locations owned by Dallas-based former magazine editor Brittany Cobb, caters to a trendy customer who loves the cowboy lifestyle but spends little time on a ranch. Shoppers choose their hat shape and then browse bins of artfully curated bits and bobs sourced from flea markets to adorn it.